Along with Bordeaux and Burgundy, Rhône Valley wines are acknowledged to be among the best in the world. Situated in the Rhône River Valley in the south of France, the Rhône is comprised of two distinct regions—the north and south—each with its own viniculture and featuring wines of very different character.
The Northern Rhône (referred to in French as Rhône septentrional) produces powerful, aromatically complex and age worthy red wines, often in very limited numbers, from the dignified Syrah grape. Typically, most red wines in the northern zone have had an alcohol content in the common 12% to 13% range, but warmer-than-normal growing seasons (like in 1997, 1999, and 2003 in particular), have brought significantly richer, more powerful, and higher alcoholic content varieties.
The Southern Rhône (or Rhône méridional) yields more than 90% of the valley’s total production. A multitude of markedly more rustic and often richer blends coming from the high-alcohol Grenache grape can be identified by a more “southern” flavor. The wines offer a rich mouth feel, and more of a roasted and somewhat liqueur-ish fruit personality with spice and wild herb accents.
In the Northern Rhône Valley the apotheosis of Viognier, an exotically scented white wine, is also grown. Viognier is a variety that has been recently planted on several continents by growers hoping to capitalize on a strong worldwide demand. There are other white wines from the Rhône Valley (albeit less exciting than Viognier). The majority of these are blends based on Marsanne and Roussanne in the North, and Grenache Blanc and less interesting native varieties in the South.
jebdunnuck.com, 95 points: Moving to the Châteauneuf-du-Pape from bottle, the 2016 vintage was described as having the power of 2010 and similar to yet fresher than 2007. The 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape offers a great bouquet of black raspberries...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 91 points: More serious than the Premices, the 2012 Châteauneuf du Pape Tradition has additional structure and depth, with classic red and black fruits, leather, bouquet garni and spice aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied, nicely...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 95 points: Sourced from the lieu-dit of Les Bédines, the 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Safres is 95% Grenache, with the remainder being a mix of other permitted varieties. Like the other wines from Le Clos du Caillou, it shows great...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 97 points: Full-bodied, rich, concentrated and velvety, the 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Quartz is a complete thoroughbred. A blend of 85% Grenache and 15% Syrah, it offers up stunning aromas of crushed stones, tea roses, black...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 96 points: Previously unreviewed by The Wine Advocate, the 2012 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Laurence is 80% Grenache, 6% Syrah, 4% Mourvèdre and the balance a mix of other authorized varieties. After approximately four years in...
jebdunnuck.com, 97 points: The 2015 Côte Rôtie La Landonne from Delas is a seamless, gorgeously balanced Côte Rôtie that reminds me of the 2011. Offering classic notes of smoked meats, currants, graphite, chocolate and roasted herbs, this beauty...
jebdunnuck.com, 95 points: The base 2016 Cornas from Robert is a killer wine that shows the style of the vintage as well as the quality of the estate brilliantly. Crème de cassis, blackberries, smoked earth, spice, and hints of meatiness all flow...
TheWineCellarInsider.com, 100 points: The spicy cherries might be the first thing you notice, but it only gets better from there with all the flowers, pepper, herbs and kirsch that kicks in from there. Full bodied, rich, concentrated and luxurious in texture...
jebdunnuck.com, 100 points: Lastly, the inky colored (it's even deeper than the Sabarotte) 2015 Cornas Les Eygats comes from a cooler terroir located in the northern part of the appellation. Raised in equal parts new and used barrels, it offers an...
jebdunnuck.com, 93 points: I always love this cuvée, and the 2015 Saint-Péray Fleur De Crussol might be the best yet. Brioche, honeycomb, crushed rock-like minerality and sautéed stone fruits give way to a rich, concentrated, beautifully textured...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 95 points: Consisting of one-third each Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre, the 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape Coralie et Floriane is a spectacular wine. It's a blend of lots from three different lieux-dits, each with a different soil type...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 98 points: Of the three sélection parcellaire whites, the 2015 Ermitage de l’Orée is the most fresh and lively, with full-bodied richness and depth in its pineapple, mint, tropical fruits, toasted bread, brioche and liquid...
Jancis Robinson's Purple Pages, 90 points: (17/20) Tasted blind. Slightly dull crimson. Lacks a bit of freshness on the nose. Very sweet and lightly spicy. Lots of spine and fine tannin. Chew on the end. Herby tannins. Needs a bit of time but this could deliver.
jebdunnuck.com, 95 points: One of the finest wines to date from this estate as well as from the appellation, the 2016 Rasteau La Ponce shows the exuberance and depth of the vintage, yet also has thrilling purity of fruit and perfect balance...
jebdunnuck.com, 95 points: The 2015 Cornas Terre Brûlée comes from a total of seven different lieux-dits throughout the appellation (all are granite soils) and was vinified in concrete tanks before spending 18 months in older demi-muids. It offers...
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